SAN PEDRO, Ambergris Caye, Mon. Oct. 4, 2021– On Sunday morning, police stationed on the island of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, found the lifeless body of Jerry Espat, 25, near Congrejo Caye, behind the lagoon near the sea in a patch of mangroves.
The victim and three others, since identified as Luis Enrique Santoya, Ricardo Anthony Espat, and Kirian Espat, were reportedly ambushed by three men traveling in a red boat and a group traveling in a boat that was light blue in color. The men faced off in the open waters.
Shots were reportedly fired and Santoya, the owner of the boat in which Jerry Espat and his companions were traveling, he received injuries. The occupants of the next boat reportedly opened fire on Jerry Espat, the deceased, and Kirian Espat. Kirian was able to escape and fled to the mainland to get help in locating his brother, Jerry.
Jerry Espat’s body was not found until early Sunday morning. At this time, no motive for the incident has been determined. This recent murder is the first to take place in San Pedro since the start of this year. At least one person has been detained in connection with the shooting.
Today, police arrested and charged Gabriel Villafranco, a Belizean fisherman of a San Pedro Town address for the crime of murder.